Carlsbad's Gomez rushes for 151 yards in win over Vista

CARLSBAD —— Cancel the all-points bulletin for Alex Gomez. He's
right where he has been the entire football season —— alive and
well at Carlsbad High. The 5-foot-8, 185-pound running back turned
in his best game of the season, including a game-winning 58-yard
touchdown run, to lift the Lancers to a 14-7 win over Vista on
Friday night.

Normally a tough team to run against, No. 6-ranked Vista (4-2-1,
1-1 Avocado League) had no answer for Gomez and allowed the Lancers
(5-2, 2-0) to control the ball most of the game.

Gomez finished with 151 yards on 24 carries, quite an
improvement for a player who entered with 398 rushing yards this
season.

"I've been waiting all year for a game like this," Gomez said.
"I was getting mad with all the passing we've had to use.

"The whole team took it personally when people said we couldn't
run the ball.

"This game felt more like Carlsbad football to me."

Carlsbad is alone in first place in the Avocado League after
Oceanside's 14-11 loss at Fallbrook.

Trailing 14-0 at halftime, Vista scored on the third play of the
second half. Quarterback Loa Madon threw a slant pass to senior
wide receiver Dean McCastle, who raced 78 yards through the
secondary before being bumped into the end zone.

Leading 14-7, the Lancers tried to take a safety in the final
minute but got a first down instead when the Panthers were called
for holding.

"I'll take the blame for this one," Vista coach Dan Williams
said. "We were poorly coached.

"We had a chance on the drive right after our touchdown to get
an interception, but it was ruled incomplete. We should have gotten
the ball (at the Carlsbad 25)."

Vista, which had 82 total yards at halftime, recovered to edge
the Lancers in total offense, 227 yards to 203.

"We'll never have an easy game against Vista," Carlsbad coach
Bob McAllister said. "We talked at halftime about finishing up with
the lead and again after Vista scored.

"Alex was a warrior, a stud, and the offensive line, which has
had a lot of injuries, really stepped up."

Carlsbad used five plays to cover 44 yards, getting help from a
Vista personal foul, to set up quarterback Matt Christian's 17-yard
TD pass to Antwon Dawson for a 7-0 lead with 4:29 left in the first
quarter. A 29-yard punt by Vista set up that scoring drive for the
Lancers.

A 13-yard punt in the second quarter set up the Lancers' other
scoring drive in the first half. That four-play, 79-yard march was
capped by Gomez's 58-yard scamper through a pile of Panthers'
defenders at midfield.